Dear MCRider, I’ve been riding motorcycles since 1975 and after watching your videos I’ve learned more from you than I have learned by my mistakes in all those years. Thanks for the education as it is much appreciated. Mav in Ireland
Another excellent informative video, as always! I learned this technique 48 years ago when I started riding on the street. Also when I was still in the Navy in 1977 the Norfolk base offered a motorcycle safety course. You had to take it in order to keep a motorcycle on base, otherwise you had to get a daily pass. It really opened my eyes, I thought I knew a lot more than I until I took that course. I highly recommend everyone take a safety course.
This is what I called a perfect video. Pointing the nose in the direction and at the same time scannibg the conrner and the surrounding is perfect combination. I m certainly making it a habit from now on....
I appreciate your professionalism in the way you teach. There is no arrogance from you, nor do you talk down to us “average riders” like some other guy does on his channel. 👍🏻
You Sir, are a saint. Rather than skimming over things, explaining them with great examples, you have encouraged me to look at the way I ride, and have helped me a great deal in figuring out a few "why do i keep doing that?" moments that were getting on my nerves lol. Thanks again👍👍
I don't know if you will see this, but I just got a motorcycle and started riding yesterday, and I'm very thankful for you and your videos. I feel like they will help me out a lot. Thanks!
Kevin, I just had to pause. You were talking about target fixation approaching the 6 minute mark, and it reminds me of some of the on-road practice I do. And then you describe basically what I've been doing. To those passing by, this is good advice. To reiterate what is described, and to explain what I do, here is how I have been training away from target fixation: I pick a "hazard" on the road. So, for example there's a stretch of road on my way home from a lot of rides with a bunch of manhole covers. That can be some "hazards," as well as any flaw in the pavement. I look at the hazard, and label it as such, then I look where I wish to go and label that, "escape," in my mind so to speak. Or I at least look at what I wish to avoid and look elsewhere. It is definitely helping. Like I said, I think it's really good advice. Something else I like to do on that road with a long line of manhole covers is using them for low-key swerving practice. I push right or left on the handlebar as I approach closely. In fair weather, they aren't a serious threat to traction with steady throttle and road speed. It's a bit more difficult to practice emergency braking in the middle of traffic, however. I save that for the parking lot.
Great advise. I had this problem along with the dreaded U turn. Practice practice! I finally got it! I have seen this problem many times when riding with others totally misjudging corners and driving onto the shoulder of the road. Thanks Kevin
Excellent description Kevin. I particularly like you pointing out how practicing in parking lots turning your head and looking where you want to go can be utilized on the street under speed. I hadn’t made that connection. Thanks for tying the two together.
Kevin may you and your family be blessed this Christmas. You very effectively reminded us that we should never stop scanning with our eyes no matter what other skills we are using. Scanning with the eyes is constant
Hey Kevin - one of your BEST videos ever. This skill can't get enough emphasis. I've been riding for over 40 years, and I still practice this every season.
Great video Kevin! Thank you! Everyone talks about turning your head and pointing your nose or chin in the direction you want to go; however, I haven't heard anyone else say to scan back and forth while your head is turned. I do that naturally, and appreciate you confirming what I do. Thanks again for all of your terrific videos!
Thank you for validating a point that I have argued for decades.. And remember, NOTHING is carved in stone. Adaptation is what will keep you alive once you know where and how to see. But to think that you don't make ANY adjustments (Sneaking a peek as you round a corner) because someone somewhere told you that you simply HAVE to do it a certain way is a SURE way to get in a jam..
Thank you for what you do for the motorcycle community I have learned a lot from you Moto jiu jitsu and a bunch of others. If these videos weren't available I don't know where I would get this information. Honestly you guys are doing the whole writing community a great service by posting these types of videos please keep up the good work I would love to come ride with you someday.
I am brushing up on all of your fundamental basics videos to prep for the riding season which is right around the corner. you have the best Moto channel as you explain things calmly, concisely and time efficiently while still not rushing through it. @MCrider is Very entertaining and an actual public service channel in your valuable content. Thank You.
Great advice Kevin, thank you. I have always had issues with looking where I want to go and the perfectly reasonable fear of hitting a pothole. The roads here in the UK have suffered from underinvestment for a number of years and in some places are in terrible condition. I’ll certainly try your technique next time I’m out. I hope you and your family have a very Happy Christmas. Bless you and yours. 🙏🏻
I had a fairly, new to riding, friend ask me how far ahead I look while riding. I relayed all your information because I heard most of it while taking the MSF course. When I told him about not focusing on what is 10 feet in front of him because that close stuff has already happened to him. He just hadn't felt it yet. Good program. Merry Christmas Kevin.
Thanks again Kevin. I’m in a cold and wet part of Canada and, my Honda VTX1300 has been put to sleep until next Spring but....I never stop learning from you thanks to RU-vid and your awesome channel.👍🏾👍🏾🏍
I'm so happy I started doing this scanning "intuitively" on my ride in the twisties yesterday, and now stumbling on this video explaining it's the right thing to do!
This is good advice even on the straight part of roads, to ensure that obstacles like potholes are properly avoided as you approach them. Looking twelve seconds ahead will not allow you to spot potholes, especially when riding at night. Thanks again Kevin!
Kevin I ALWAYS pick up something from your videos... at least one thing that I did not know or that needs to be paid attention to. This week, it was "target fixation" and from your explanation of that phenomenon, I looked back and realized that every time I hit a pothole or a rough patch in the road, it was because I was staring at the problem and not the solution, so I wound up running straight into the target I was fixated on... the pothole. This bit of training will be in the forefront of my mind now as I ride. BTW, I am in Thailand now in the middle of my 6-month vacation here, and my PCX 150 is my only means of transportation, and I am loving it - although I do miss my 1600 Vulcan - because most people here ride motorbikes and the PCX is considered a big bike. Even though less than 1/10th the size of my bike back home, I find that a lot of the rules still apply. Thanks for such a great effort.
Robert Simmons "Paying it Foward". He's a retired New York City Motorcycle Patrol Lieutenant, currently residing in Georgia. He specializes in slow motorcycle operations. He's down to Earth, easy going, but passionate about "preloading and keepin' it loaded".✌🏽👍🏽
This is exactly what was thought to new riders 25 years ago when I took the course. This also made me be a better car driver as well. Good job explaining it well Kevin.
Thank you sharing your techniques Kevin . This summer I had a bit of a scare on one of my rides. I was on two lane highway entering a wide sweeping righthand turn and the turn was not blind. I was within the posted speed limit for the turn. On the side of the road there was a large dog at the apex of the turn, and I did not see the dog until I was almost beside it. The dog stayed on the side of the road, but if it came on the road I would have hit him, and this would have been a different story. The technique you just explained, will help me see the obstacle sooner and be better prepared. I clearly remember looking through the turn, but not scanning for obstacles on the side of the road. All the best to you and your family over the holidays. .
This is great advise and technique. I for one see this as a no brainer. I've been doing that for years, but in talking to other riders about safety on the rode it seems that these facts are not as obvious to others. Thanks for sharing Kevin!
A very good tip to contol the motorcycle on low speeds! In Austria (not that with the kangurus) we have a saying. "Einen guten Motorradfahrer erkennt man beim langsam fahren. Gasgeben kann jeder!" what means "A good Rider can be seen on low speed. Everyone can drive fast!" Greetings from snowy Austria!!
This video has taught me so much, thanks Kevin!!! I have found simple turns in town challenging, and even go wide on these turns sometimes!! Now I totally get why!!! Thanks so much!
Have been watching your videos for a year now, its has been a great help in bettering my technique here in australia, but a massive thank you from the bottom of my heart as it has also saved me ass a couple of time. Love the new garage and setup too, definitely need a panoramic 360 of it :)
Good guidance Kevin, target fixation I discovered by accident! (it was never explained to me before I met it). As a newbie I pulled out of a drive way looking across the road, incase I hit the kerb...........and rode into the kerb and fell off!!!!!!!!!!!!!It was like a magentic field pulling me.......... My ego was the only thing that got bruised but I was shaken. Have a great holiday and look forward to more videos from MC Rider in 2020.
Hi Kevin. The new location and the new set up looks really good. Keep up the great work. Your depth of knowledge and easy to watch videos are a valuable resource. All the best for the season and I hope 2020 brings lots of new adventures. Cheers.
Good advice. I’ve been avoiding intersections where I know there is usually gravel, and even avoiding riding after a rain because where I live lots of gravel accumulates on many streets. I’ll see if I can begin to focus on avoiding the gravel.
Today when I went on a ride it was to get to about 53 degrees today. When I left home in WV it was about 40 degrees. On some of these backroads not heavily traveled on the northern sides of the mountains they was still ice from natural springs and runoff from driveways. That scanning back with the eyes is really important like when fall drops all those leaves on the roads, or looking for grass clippings people blow out into the road.
Another outstanding video! The only problem is you keep talking about the parking lot practice sessions... my wife hears this & gives me “the look” that means get out to the lot & practice! When I have time to ride I wanna ride somewhere. I’m like the eight year old at the piano, I wanna play without the practice... I know I know... I need to practice! Thanks, you are amazing & I appreciate you! MERRY CHRISTMAS praise God for the birth of our savior!!!
Hi Kevin thx for the tip and vids. My question is when riding on an interstate/turnpike etc at high rate of speed -70-80 mph On a long winding sweeper I’m sure this technique applies. When going that fast on a sweeper what is the best way to negotiate the long arc??? Don’t want to lean to much so I have been using throttle control and sometimes engine braking? Any other tips? Plz make a video on riding at faster speeds on highways and negotiating these sweepers, corners etc. thx very much! Great stuff...
Great work as usual Kevin but I have a question. Do you have any advice regarding turn preference. On a right turn ( here in Australia that’s your left turn) I really have to concentrate hard at maintaining a line so as to not stray over the centerline especially at highway speeds. I don’t have to think at all about a left hand turn, that’s natural. I have been riding for a long time and it’s an issue that has plagued me from day one. It’s become worse since my crash several years ago. I have done track days and made huge efforts in normal riding but nothing helps. Any advice would be appreciated. Cheers. Paul.
I am a new rider in Pennsylvania where the roads are some of the worst maintained in the country. Most of the roads I ride on are rural, have lots of hills, blind turns going uphill and downhill and deer. When I'm trying to set up for a curve, it's difficult because many times I'm on roads that have gravel or large potholes where I need to set up. To avoid target fixation, I end up slowing way down for the curve but feel like I'm going too slow. I don't think Eileen as much as I should because I'm worried my tires are going to hit gravel or deep ruts n the road and that I'lll lose traction and wreck. Other riders tell me I'm doing fine for a newbie and that speed in curves will come naturally with more experience. Any tips you can give for new riders to handle curves when the roads are more likely to be in horrible condition rather than smooth and level?
How do you deal with fog? going across town for shopping the other day I took everything very carefully, could barely see ten feet in front of me, plus the ground was very slippery. had to have my visor up too; years ago broke my visor, tried following some mates up a motorway, could not keep up an had to turn back for home; this was just after having catarachts sorted - rode 250 rebel for more than a year one eyed; then had to deal with one eye being short sighted an the new eye being long; much prefer being long sighted the short (except with no visor. always keep a pair of nite drive glasses on the bike now, especially at nite when lights coming towards you blind you. How do you look thru a blind corner? cheers
Looking through the curve while glancing at pavement condition is much like high speed jet skiing. You have to keep the head and eyes well ahead, on your path, looking for traffic (because nobody honors the rules of giving way on the lakes and pontoon barges are all camouflage colors), but you have to read water condition all the time, looking for swells or wakes that can throw you, or hazards in the water. Always two visual jobs simultaneously, on water or the road: head and eyes on your path, eyes quickly and frequently checking conditions. Don’t you do that in the car as well?
I agree when you say “turn your head in the direction you want to go”, however when I do a shoulder check/life saver, I find it quite unbalancing. Any times how to prevent this?
When rounding sharper corners on some of the twisties near me, I find that I have trouble matching my turning radius to the road when I look far through the corner, and I end up with tiny wiggles in an otherwise smooth track. I think this is from losing my perspective on lane position because it's now outside my field of view. I suppose only practice will help this, but for now I have to keep my eyes moving to monitor my lane position.
Target Fixation is true. I was riding a trail bike on an old sawmill road and saw a log. Sure enough I run over it and was thrown. When I got up I saw the tracks in the leaves, it was plain, when I saw the log I headed straight for it! THE IDEA WAY IS TO START RIDING A TRAIL BIKE IN THE WOODS (WON'T GET RUN OVER BY 18 WHEELERS.)
